I researched both M4 and the T1 so I could go down both lines. Then I realized I could skip the the T1 and m6 and still get to the T29 via the M4. So the question is, are the T1 and M6 fun enough to grind out or should I skip them?

If you just want the final tanks in the line, skip them. However, I will say that the M6 is one of the most underrated, hidden gem tanks in the game. It has good frontal armor, a very good 90mm gun, and decent mobility(I'd even say it's the best tier VI heavy in the game).

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Men should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." ~ James 1: 19-20

If you don't want to waste time on the T20 (a tier 7 med) to get the 90, go through the M6. You'll save yourself a ton of heartache (and maybe a controller or two). The T29 without the 90 is a very painful experience.

Personally, I loved my M6. The T1 was fairly meh in my opinion but there are plenty of players who loved it.

If you just want the final tanks in the line, skip them. However, I will say that the M6 is one of the most underrated, hidden gem tanks in the game. It has good frontal armor, a very good 90mm gun, and decent mobility(I'd even say it's the best tier VI heavy in the game).

DO NOT SKIP THOSE TANKS!
They give you guns that are borderline universal on a crapload of mid-tier American tanks - 76mm, 90mm M3, etc. etc.
They'll make the T29 stock grind a lot easier and they're oodles of fun to play.

DO NOT SKIP THOSE TANKS!
They give you guns that are borderline universal on a crapload of mid-tier American tanks - 76mm, 90mm M3, etc. etc.
They'll make the T29 stock grind a lot easier and they're oodles of fun to play.

Gain the experience. There is little reason to bypass the T1 and M6, as both are good heavies at their tier. I looked at your stat page to get a gage on your Heavy experience and these tanks appear to be new for you. I'm not saying this to be a troll - I'm pointing out that you should get in the heavy play at the lower tiers and work to the T29. When you get a grip on the T1, you'll find the M6 to be very similar in play style. The T29 has its own play style but the previous experience with the other two heavies still gives you the groundwork for the overall role.

"Win or lose, naught to choose - all men are equal when their memory fades. No one knows, friends or foes, if Valhalla lies beyond the grave." - Motörhead “Deaf Forever”

It has all been said by those above me but I also recommend going through the T1 Heavy and the M6. The M6 will give you the 90mm and is just a fun tank with its top package. The T1 Heavy is also just a fun tank.

Both the T1 Heavy and M6 are perfect stepping stones for American Heavy Tanks. The experience you will gain from using them will serve you well in the T29.

Yes I'm new to heavy tanks so I'll take the advice and play through them. Am I understanding correcting that skipping the T1 limits the gun options on the T29? I didn't know tank packages were influenced by previous tank choices. If true, does this apply to other tanks?

Yes I'm new to heavy tanks so I'll take the advice and play through them. Am I understanding correcting that skipping the T1 limits the gun options on the T29? I didn't know tank packages were influenced by previous tank choices. If true, does this apply to other tanks?

Thanks!

It's not so much the packages themselves as it is the modules.
If you look at the M6 heavy, its top gun is the 90mm M3. That gets used on the T29 heavy (one of the first packages), the Hellcat T20 medium (top gun), and I can't remember what else. Researching it on the M6 essentially makes the gun itself free on the packages of other tanks, reducing the overall XP cost of those other tanks' packages which have the same modules. The same thing goes for a lot of engines that are shared between tanks.
... Does that make sense? It's a bit to take in.

It's not so much the packages themselves as it is the modules.
If you look at the M6 heavy, its top gun is the 90mm M3. That gets used on the T29 heavy (one of the first packages), the Hellcat tank destroyer (top gun), and I can't remember what else. Researching it on the M6 essentially makes the gun itself free on the packages of other tanks, reducing the overall XP cost of those other tanks' packages which have the same modules. The same thing goes for a lot of engines that are shared between tanks.
... Does that make sense? It's a bit to take in.

Mobius has the right of it. Additionally, some packages end up being free for the same reasons. Case in point, I worked up to the IS-7 on the Soviet tree. When I later worked on the ST-I, unlocking the middle package led to the final package being 0XP. This was because I already researched the gun on the IS-8 previously.

"Win or lose, naught to choose - all men are equal when their memory fades. No one knows, friends or foes, if Valhalla lies beyond the grave." - Motörhead “Deaf Forever”

It's not so much the packages themselves as it is the modules.
If you look at the M6 heavy, its top gun is the 90mm M3. That gets used on the T29 heavy (one of the first packages), the Hellcat tank destroyer (top gun), and I can't remember what else. Researching it on the M6 essentially makes the gun itself free on the packages of other tanks, reducing the overall XP cost of those other tanks' packages which have the same modules. The same thing goes for a lot of engines that are shared between tanks.
... Does that make sense? It's a bit to take in.

TDs do not share guns from anything but other TDs, and even that is not always true, the German TD lines essentially use the same guns as each other but are considered different guns.

Yes I'm new to heavy tanks so I'll take the advice and play through them. Am I understanding correcting that skipping the T1 limits the gun options on the T29? I didn't know tank packages were influenced by previous tank choices. If true, does this apply to other tanks?

Thanks!

A lot of tanks in the Tree will use the same guns, engines and radios as other tanks, so it is worthwhile to research your way up the line, as it makes quite a few packages cheaper to research, ( in some cases, free ).

I've got to admit, I did skip the T1 and M6 to get to the T29 via the Jumbo. I can't remember how much the first package was, but I did have enough free XP to unlock it at the time.

I did use the T1, but I couldn't quote get on with it, and to me, it just seemed the M6 was more of the same.